Stirlitz walked through Berlin, and something elusive betrayed him as a Soviet intelligence officer. Either a manly profile, or a strong-willed posture, or a parachute dragging behind his shoulders. But seriously, we are not talking about the Russian intelligence officer Isaev, but about the German Volkswagen California car, which is a real mini-home on wheels, and in appearance you cannot tell until you see a tent on the roof and a salon inside.
Volkswagen is a well-known and purchased car brand in Russia. This company produces passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, which includes the "Transporter" model. This car was released in the fifties of the last century. On the basis of this model, many modifications of cargo, passenger and utility vehicles were created. One such example is the Volkswagen California.
Versatility is good
Volkswagen California is a universal model. Its creators did not particularly "bother" and took the base of the usual "Transporter" as a basis. The California is the ideal vehicle for long distance travel and camping. It combines high practicality, easy handling and ride comfort, which is the main indicator for travel enthusiasts.
Its appearance does not differ much from the "Transporter". The only priority change was a taller roof with a mechanical sunroof. This made it possible to significantly increase the salon space. The "muzzle" of the car differs from its "progenitor" by a black plastic bumper and halogen headlights with white turn signals. A huge corporate logo flaunts in the very center on the black radiator grille. At the bottom there are holes for round foglights.
Ideal model dimensions
The Volkswagen California has impressive dimensions. It is larger than a station wagon and crossover, but smaller and more compact than a classic RV. This allows the car to move freely through back streets and narrow streets. Its length is 5 meters, width - 1.9 meters, height - 2 meters, wheelbase - 300 centimeters, and ground clearance on standard alloy wheels - 19.3 centimeters. "Volkswagen" can easily get close to the most inaccessible places, without fear of getting bogged down somewhere. Therefore, it is considered a fairly maneuverable vehicle.
The simplicity of the cabin does not affect its optionality
The interior of the camper is simple enough. The front panel view is without frills, but rather optional, since the management functions are located very ergonomically. The center console houses a seven-inch multimedia display with navigation. There are two powerful deflectors on the sides. It is convenient to turn the radio, climate and stove from below. A gearshift lever is built into the front panel. Steering wheel without buttons and three-spoke. Instrument panel with a small on-board computer. The bottom line of the window is at knee level, which gives an excellent view of the surrounding world and virtually eliminates the presence of dead zones. The driver's seating position is high, but without touching the ceiling with his head. Seats with good lumbar support, fabric with rigid padding, which allows the back not to get tired on long journeys. It is required to adjust the seats mechanically. Optionally, you can purchase a version of the car in which the seats come with leather upholstery. The cabin has excellent sound insulation. Sound from the street does not penetrate even when the vehicle is moving at high speed.
The center of the salon generally deserves special attention. It is equipped with swivel and reclining chairs. They can be used to assemble a full double bed. The second row of seats can be moved along the slide to any distance. The salon, if desired, turns into a comfortable bedroom, which provides the traveler with a real rest. In the roof of the car there is a built-in tent for two berths. The salon has a place for storing and preparing food, as well as a comfortable folding table.
Specifications
The line of power units at the "Volkswagen California" is quite extensive. The gasoline range is represented by a basic two-liter naturally aspirated engine with two liters. It is an in-line four-cylinder unit that produces 116 horsepower. The motor torque is 170 Nm. The top among the gasoline lines is the six-cylinder unit with a V-shaped arrangement of "boilers". With a volume of 3.2 liters, it develops a power of 235 horsepower. The torque of the unit is 315 Nm.
The diesel line is a basic turbocharged four-cylinder unit with a displacement of 1.9 liters. This motor develops 84 horsepower. The motor torque is 200 Nm. This engine can be found on the first modifications of the Volkswagen California car. With the same displacement, the next was a 102-horsepower unit. With the increase in power, its torque has also increased, it is 250 Nm.
"Hodovka" machine is built on a front-wheel drive platform with a transverse power unit. In front, the car received an independent suspension with MacPherson struts and an anti-roll bar. There is a multi-link circuit at the back. Regardless of the configuration, Volkswagen California is equipped with a hydraulic power steering, ABS system and exchange rate stabilization.
Car restyling
2010 was a year of change for Volkswagen California. The car has undergone a serious restyling. These changes affected to a greater extent the external data of the German car, although the line of units also became different. First, the manufacturers have given up on the high roof. Now it can be increased thanks to a retractable canvas hatch and thus the roof is lengthened several times. Due to this, there is also plenty of space inside. The appearance of the car has changed a bit. Ahead there is a raised bumper and stylish optics with stripes of navigation lights, which harmoniously merge with the chrome strips of the radiator grille. And the lattice itself has become much wider than before. At the bottom of the bumper are small fog lights. Despite their small size, they shine very brightly.
The new type of car has become much more presentable than the previous one, but it has not lost its kinship with its "Transporter" family. As a result of the 2010 restyling, not only the appearance of the "Volkswagen California" has changed, but also the power part of the car. A new TSI engine has appeared, which is represented by a turbocharged gasoline unit with an in-line arrangement of cylinders. Thanks to the modernized injection and boosting, the engine power has increased to 204 horsepower. The torque is 350 Nm. The diesel line has also changed. Only the two-liter 102-horsepower engine remained the same. Among the innovations is a two-liter unit with Blue Motion technology with a capacity of 114 horsepower. Also on the list is a BiTDI unit with two turbines. Its volume is two liters with a capacity of 179 horsepower. The motor torque is 400 Nm.
You can buy a new Volkswagen California with front-wheel drive and a two-liter diesel engine at a price of 2,124,000 rubles. The cost of the all-wheel drive version starts at 4 million rubles. For an all-wheel drive version with a top-end engine, you need to pay almost five million rubles. Volkswagen California is a real mini-house on wheels, roomy inside and compact outside, it can rightfully be considered a family car designed for joint country trips and long journeys. But the recent trend is that Russians do not often allow this car to be purchased. Apparently, the high price for this model still affects.
